A further quick update on my eigth batch of books read so far during my 12 month reading log. I have added the previous lists a cumulative list to help me keep track of my reading goals:

Another Place to Die, by Sam NorthThe Politically Incorrect Guide to The Great Depression and the New Deal, by Robert MurphySweet and Sour Pie – A Wisconsin Boyhood, by Dave CrehoreGaia’s Garden – A Guide to Home Scale Permaculture, by Toby HemenwayHow to Build with Grid Beam, by Jergenson, Jergenson & Keppel

Having further thoughts on doing the redesign of my operating desk. Have started recording what switches I need to access at what points, making a list of what I need to be able to see.

Some items are “start & forget” for the most part – Power Supplies, Amp Keyer Interface, and similar items only need to be accessed to start or stop the station, in normal operating conditions.

Other items are “band switch” items that really only have to be manipulated and monitored when switching bands or antennas.

Several of these “band switch” items can be automated. When run in their automated modes, with their software control showing on the screens, they approach becoming “start & forget” items.

Then there are the “see to adjust” items where I need to have access to their controls and be able to read their indicators or screens. Without having good access to these controls and their feedback indicators, my station would be much less effective.

Another important consideration is the “I/O gear” being the Input/Output stuff like Keyboards, Monitors, Microphones, Speakers, Headsets, mice and HMI (Human Machine Interfaces – fancy for USB knobs). These are the ones I really need to have access with absolute ease.

I’ve not really decided how to handle “Other Stuff” – whether I should ban these items from the shack, let them happen ad hoc, or plan them in. Have to think some more about these things.

I am considering three modes of operation – First the Usual DX/Ragchew using the Flex-5000 as the radio, Second a Contest Mode of operations, and Third being alternate configurations like a different Transceiver in use or no computer use.

In a week or so I should have my charts to start analyzing for access, line of sight and control issues.

I’m busy working on a new operating station design for my operating console.

The layout is far from ideal, and evolved rather than was planned.

Though it is working OK, the “piled-up” style makes even minor maintenance troublesome. A recent RFI in the shack took way too long to track down, mostly due to evolved rather than planned cable layout.

I’m also planning to finally get my 6m amp in the shack, ready to go.

Physically the operating desk has a lot of limitations, ones I will need to live with for another couple years at least.

For those that haven’t followed my operating desk is as far away from my antennas in the house as could be possible, and in a cool but immaculately finished room that had been intended to be a wine cellar of sorts. Other sporting supplies, stored items and our meagerly few dozen bottles of plonk take up a fair bit of space.

Presently the station is on an electrical worker’s factory desk, which I will continue to adapt to suit the station needs.

I’ve sketched an “under table shelf” that will become home for quite a bit of gear that does not need to be in line-of-sight once started.

As my main radio is the Flex-Radio Flex-5000A SDR Software Defined Radio, computer integration is critical. Presently I have two 20 inch widescreen LCD screens in a side-by-side configuration. I’ve like to add a third wall-mounted screen to host the rotor control program, the SWR/Power meter control program, perhaps a DX Cluster display and eventually Amp & Antenna Switch control programs.

Hopefully by the end of September I’ll have some sketches or photos to put up.

W8NUE and I are very pleased to annouce that RTTY mode is now fully supported on the NUE-PSK Digital Modem!

Milt has been working like crazy this summer to complete support for the transmit portion of this mode, and in the last week or two we’ve been quite successful in testing it on the bench and on the air.

The website has been updated with the latest software version 2.10g supporting this new mode, as well as an RTTY App Note describing all the details for use and enjoyment. It’s in the form of a PDF (http://www.nue-psk.com/manuals/RTTY%20App%20Note.pdf), and I’ve attached it in text form below here in this message.

I’ve also updated and simplified the wording that describes the multiple ways one can update the modem software. The mem.dat file and three .hex files are are directly accessible at the top of the Technical Resource section under “Latest Software” … just right-click on the desired file and “save as…” to your computer; then follow the standard directions on the page called “Loading the Latest Software” (http://www.nue-psk.com/software/Loading%20the%20latest%20software.html). Many of you now have the optional USB card installed in the modem, making your update process just as simple as can be by just using the mem.dat file on your thumb drive. (Details on the USB card are at http://www.nue-psk.com/usb/index.html).

We really hope you have fun using RTTY with your NUE-PSK Digital Modem. It’s a fun and time-tested mode that still has much of the old time operating “flavor” — long brag files, banners, and more — and now you too can play along, even while going portable with field operation! Be sure to let us in the NUE-PSK Yahoo Group know how it works out for you.